Rivermen send vets Sonne, Shattock to ECHL Evansville

The Peoria Rivermen sent veterans Brett Sonne and Tyler Shattock to ECHL Evansville on Sunday as part of the AHL team's final roster cuts leading up to the start of the 2012-13 season.

Peoria also released defenseman Jesse Perrin and winger Tyler Shelast, both training camp invitees who will head to ECHL Evansville as well.

Dave Eminian

The Peoria Rivermen sent veterans Brett Sonne and Tyler Shattock to ECHL Evansville on Sunday as part of the AHL team's final roster cuts leading up to the start of the 2012-13 season.

Peoria also released defenseman Jesse Perrin and winger Tyler Shelast, both training camp invitees who will head to ECHL Evansville as well.

Sonne and Shattock are St. Louis Blues draft picks on NHL-AHL contracts, and played the last two seasons with Peoria.

Both were key parts of Peoria's penalty-kill units and checking lines last season. They lost their spots this fall in a Blues organization that has created more roster depth and, in part, pushed players down to the Rivermen as a result of the NHL lockout.

"Never easy, clearly this was the toughest year getting down to that final roster since we've operated in Peoria," Blues assistant general manager and Rivermen GM Kevin McDonald said. "Tough decisions are the business we are in. But things change very quickly. The NHL could come back from the lockout and we could lose guys in Peoria.

"Both Sonne and Shattock have played well for us in the past, they were part of one of the AHL's top penalty-kill units last season.

"It doesn't mean we don't have plans for them. They are good pros and when we need to bring them back up here we know they'll be ready."

The Rivermen open the 2012-13 AHL season with a pair of games Friday and Saturday at Abbotsford.

Here is the final roster heading into the opener (X indicates player out with injury):

RIVER READINGS: The Rivermen open the 2012-13 AHL season with a pair of games Friday and Saturday at Abbotsford. ... The Journal Star's annual Ice Time preview section will publish in Thursday's paper and also online at www.pjstar.com. There will be an additional supplement in the walkup to Peoria's home opener in Oct. 19 editions of the Journal Star. ... The Rivermen will have their annual Meet the Rivermen party with season ticket holders on Tuesday night at Embassy Suites in East Peoria.

Dave Eminian covers the Peoria Rivermen for the Journal Star. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.